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Scorpions “Return to Forever” Deluxe Edition

Message from the Scorpions,

The last 48 hours to purchase the “Return To Forever” Deluxe Edition, Double-Heavyweight-Vinyl or Collector’s Box INCLUDING an exclusive 12” personalised Scorpions print are starting now! Limited quantities left so order now to avoid disappointment! More information here: sny.ms/ScorpionsOffer

Rock on and let’s push the pedal down to the metal!

The Scorpions “Return to Forever” North American Release date will be Tuesday March 3rd

German rock icons SCORPIONS have announced that to coincide with their 50th anniversary celebration, the group will release Return To Forever, a new album, on February 23rd in Europe. For the occasion Klaus Meine(vocals), Rudolf Schenker (guitar) and Matthias Jabs (guitar) have found old demos to rework, arrange and refine. These “forgotten songs” also feature current band members James Kottak (drums) and Pawel Maciwoda (bass). The result is Return To Forever, a bright disc that perfectly reflects what SCORPIONS do best: direct and melodic hard rock with choruses that are unstoppable and, of course, beautiful ballads. –

SCORPIONS: More ‘Return To Forever’ Album Details Revealed

scorpionsreturntoforevercd

“There’s something unreal about the number,” reckons Klaus Meine. The video for “Wind Of Change” has been viewed more than 108 million times on YouTube to date. VEVO meticulously recorded the view requests and certified them. With this, the SCORPIONS are the first German band cracking the 100 million click mark. Once again, the SCORPIONS have written a piece of music history.

The number is not only impressive, it also highlights the SCORPIONS phenomenon. 50 years after a very young Rudolf Schenker founded the band in the profoundly provincial, post-war Hannover, the SCORPIONS remain a band that is able to attract masses of new fans at any given time. A fact that surprises even the musicians themselves, as they gladly admit. “It’s really remarkable,” says Rudolf Schenker, for example, “how well and mostly unharmed we’ve survived those years, in which our kind of music seemed to have gotten out of style completely. When the grunge wave hit the shore, we simply went to Asia to tap new markets and gain new fans. We were able to continue playing and keep on winning new friends for our music.”

“Today”, they all marvel, “we’re not only as hip as we were at our best times, our audience is becoming younger and younger as well.” The insight that new generations worldwide are just now discovering the SCORPIONS inspires them. In 2010, the band had reached a point where the perpetual cycle of studio sessions, album releases, and subsequent mega tours had in the end worn them out to such an extent that they seriously considered winding down and planned to retire with a farewell tour. 2013 however, a world tour later, brought a breath of fresh air. The sensational “MTV Unplugged” concert at the Lycabettus open-air theater in Athens was the most urgent reminder of how dreamlike and intense performances in front of an audience can be, and what challenges still await them. Either way, the hunger for more had returned, for all of them.

So the band once again met up with their two favorite Swedes to realize a project, which initially had been intended to be rather plain. Mikael Nord Andersson and Martin Hansen had already produced “Sting In The Tail”, and re-arranged the whole material for “MTV Unplugged” together with Matthias Jabs.

“Actually, we only wanted to finally record some song ideas for the fans, which we had worked on in the past but never put on an album, and then release them without much fanfare,” Matthias Jabs remembers. “There had been quite a few over the years, ideas that were really good, but in the end didn’t make the cut back then due to the limited space on vinyl and later on CD. We quickly had eight songs, which partly had to be finalized first and were then recorded from scratch. During the work, increasingly new song ideas were added from our end, as well as from the two Swedes. We had so much fun working and suddenly we found ourselves in the middle of the songwriting process once again. And in the end, it turned out to be a brand-new SCORPIONS album after all.”

The fact that the fiftieth band anniversary was coming up as well, hit Rudolf rather accidentally. “Not long ago I found an old cash account book of my mom’s, in which she meticulously recorded the earnings and expenses of my band SCORPIONS fifty years ago,” he said. “My parents had lent me the money for the first equipment back then, and it had to paid off in installments from the earnings. 50 years are a long time. Apart from us, at most THE ROLLING STONES, the BEACH BOYS or THE WHO managed to do that. In that sense, the timing for the new album is perfect, we’re celebrating half a decade of SCORPIONS with the record and the upcoming tour.”

Ultimately, the band recorded 19 songs altogether. Twelve of which are on the album, sixteen on the deluxe edition. They all present the SCORPIONS at the peak of their creativity once again. Tracks like the first single “We Built This House” are as contemporary as the sweeping “House Of Cards” (a guaranteed live hit). Also belonging in the category live hit is “Eye Of The Storm”, a track, that transports a notion of the unbelievable dynamic and joy of playing, characterizing the SCORPIONS’ stage performances. In songs like “We Built This House” the band reflects the past fifty years; their philosophy and the lessons, their unusual life taught them. Klaus Meine says: “In the end, it tells our story. We’ve built this house called SCORPIONS brick by brick and often quite arduously. From the first days in Hannover, the first concerts abroad, until this very day. We’ve weathered severe storms, but the house withstood everything, turned out to be wheatherproof and stable. However, building the house was never just cumbersome, but joyful as well. The joy of music, the joy of having experienced and still experiencing it all, the joy of — and the thankfulness for — the fans’ affection. We have been working hard for this dream, but we’re thankful as well for having been able to live it, and for still being able to live it today.”

In these fifty years, the world has changed rapidly. When the SCORPIONS started, the present with its smart phones, the Internet, intelligent fridges, holograms, and online streaming services was hardy imaginable even for the boldest science fiction authors. The SCORPIONS have witnessed and participated in all of these changes, were up to speed with these developments as artists and musicians, while at the same time staying true to themselves at all times. That too, is documented on “Return To Forever”. The band was never in need to make concessions to the respective zeitgeist, their own creative potential was much too extensive for that. For this, they have earned highest recognition worldwide, and in these fifty years have contributed an inestimable share in restoring the profoundly damaged reputation of Germany in the world after the Second World War. The fact that this contribution is now being acknowledged, is not least proven by the bestowal of the Lower Saxon State Award for the year 2014, which the band will receive on February 3, 2015.

Just how much the band is still charged with high voltage is demonstrated by classic arena rockers like “Going Out With A Bang” or the fantastic “Rock ‘N’ Roll Band”. Songs like these already whet the appetite for the upcoming world tour kicking off middle of next year, which the band is already looking forward to. Not least, “because it’s simply unbelievable and inspiring to look into the faces of very young fans, who discover us and our music in a whole new way.” And who, this might be added, experience the magic that characterizes SCORPIONS concerts since their early days, for the first time. The tour will take the band around the globe once again.

Before that, however, the SCORPIONS will appear on the big screen. The renowned film maker Katja von Garnier has accompanied the SCORPIONS on their “Final Sting” tour and put together a moving documentary with unique images during these eighteen months, displaying the band’s magic, which has never before been captured so well. The film is called “Forever And A Day”. The title at the same time outlines the philosophy the SCORPIONS have internalized since their early days. In the eighties of the past century, they wrapped it up in the slogan “Don’t Stop At The Top” (allegorical: Never rest on your laurels). They simply are travellers, who always seek new challenges, overcoming all obstacles along the way. The brand-new SCORPIONS studio album “Return To Forever” is out February 20, 2015 and will be released on CD, Deluxe CD, vinyl, Limited Collector’s Box, and several more digital and physical formats. The first single, “We Built This House”, can be downloaded as an Instant Grat on iTunes and Amazon MP3 as of now.

New Press Photos of the Scorpions

A New Interview with Matthias Jabs

The Scorpions are about to celebrate their 50th anniversary with the recording of a new album in Stockholm Sweden and a worldwide tour starting spring 2015. Parts of the World Famous band are in Bromma to lay the drums for the new album that at the moment is called “Return to forever” together with their Swedish producers Mikael “Nord” Andersson and Martin Hansen. Svip.se had the pleasure to have an exclusive interview with the guitarist Mr. Matthias Jabs, currently recovering from the flu… check below link for Full interview:

http://www.svip.se/in-english/scorpions-matthias-jabs-2/

 

Matthias Jabs and friends celebrating the final days of Recording guitars for the new album

From left to right:

Ingo Powitzer (Scorpions guitar tech), Mikael “Nord” Andersson, (producer/arranger), Matthias Jabs (Scorpions lead guitar), Peter Kirkman (Scorpions guitar tech), Hans-Martin Buff, (sound engineer)

Gibson Les Pauls from left to right: “Lesley” 2002 Historic, 1959 Bigsby Burst, 1958 Burst, 1972 Deluxe, 2012 “Don Felder” #4

Celebrating Mikael “Nord” Andersson`s birthday as well as the last day of guitar recordings for the upcoming Scorpions album at Scorpio Sound Studio. — with Hans-Martin Buff and 2 others at Hannover.

New Interview with Klaus Meine

The Scorpions’ official French fan-club, Crazyscorps recently conducted an interview with Scorpions frontman Klaus Meine, who is currently in Sweden recording the band’s new album,. In the audio clip below Meine speaks about the new Scorpions record, drummer James Kottak’s rehab process, feeling ridiculous on stage and his first groupie. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow.

About the new record: “A few years ago, when we thought about this album, about putting out something for the die-hard fans, we were thinking about using some good old material from the 80’s, find some old diamonds and pearls, and we did ! But between 2011 and now, and even this year, we kept on writing. This album is not so much about old material, in the end it’s much more about new songs, and that feels really good.”

About drummer James Kottak’s rehab: “We told him ‘At this point, it’s good if you take a break, not so much for us but for yourself. And not so much about being the drummer of the Scorpions but for yourself being a family man. You should go into a rehab, clean out yourself and come back the same James we know for so many years, not only our drummer but also a friend, and a great guy.'”

http://bravewords.com/news/scorpions-frontman-klaus-meine-talks-new-studio-album-and-drummer-james-kottaks-rehab-in-new-audio-interview

October 25th- Happy 59th Birthday Matthias Jabs

Possible Scorpions song titles from the new Studio CD

Nothing is confirmed on this information. But the new Studio CD will be released early next year with a World Tour to celebrate 50 years of the Scorpions.

“MTV Unplugged” album by the Scorpions goes gold!

Gold

The Scorpions did it once again: The recording of their sensational MTV Unplugged in Athens cracked gold status! On September 11 and 12, 2013, Klaus Meine (vocals, guitar), Rudolf Schenker (guitar, vocals), Matthias Jabs (guitar), Pawel Maciwoda (bass), and James Kottak (drums) played the first open air MTV Unplugged session ever, delighting not only the fans at the Lycabettus Theater of Athens.

The presentation of the awards already took place in Füssen on August 29. Unfortunately, the long- time Scorpions manager Peter F. Amend was not able to attend the big success due to illness, and to everyone’s shock unexpectedly passed away a few days later. Apart from the band, the event was attended by the responsible representatives of Sony Music Germany, MTV Europe, RTL Music for Millions, the promoter of the German Scorpions “MTV Unplugged” tour Dieter Semmelmann, and the MTV Unplugged concert’s Greek promoter Tassos Alexopoulos.

Manfred Rolef (Vice President AOR Label Group GSA): “Everything the Scorpions touch turns to gold, just like their MTV Unplugged album now. We are happy to have reached gold status and are now heading towards platinum! We would also like to thank MTV Europe and the media group RTL Music for Millions for the great collaboration.”

Mara Ridder-Reichert (Director Talent & Music Northern Europe MTV, VIVA, VH-1, TMF) comments on behalf of MTV: “The collaboration of all parties involved in this exceptional MTV Unplugged project was very intense. MTV and the Scorpions both are worldwide brands, which managed to make the MTV Unplugged of a German band successful all over the world. We can build on this success now.” Her colleague Sebastian Kahlich (Head of Sales MTV and VIVA) adds: “The brand MTV Unplugged in Germany once again proved being a recipe for success. Thanks  to the Scorpions for the great collaboration, to Sony Music, and the colleagues at RTL.”

Uli Mücke (Music for Millions) states: “Being one of the first projects of the label, founded by media group RTL in 2013, Music for Millions is especially happy about this joint success with Sony Music and Viacom.”

“MTV Unplugged” by the Scorpions is available as 2CD, DVD, Blu-ray, vinyl, Limited Tour Edition, Limited Amazon Box, Limited Saturn Edition, iTunes Exclusive, and download.

Das gesamten Team

The entire team – from left to right in the front row: Pawel Maciwoda, Anne Zwirnlein (Manager International Exploitation), Ola Hjelm (Band), Willy Ehmann (SVP Music Division GSA), Tassos Alexopoulos (Greek Promoter Robin4Arts), PiTTi Hecht (Band), Jessica Collura (Manager Event Promotion & Artist Relations), Mara Ridder-Reichert (Director Talent & Music Northern Europe MTV, VIVA, VH-1, TMF) und Dany Dietz (Promotion Coordination dietz&das). From left to right in the back row: Manfred Rolef (VP AOR Label Group GSA), Dieter Semmelmann (CEO Semmel Concerts Veranstaltungs GmbH), Regina Maier (Manager Product Coordination), Martin Hansen (Scorpions Producer), Rudolf Schenker, Mikael Nord Andersson (Scorpions Producer), Sebastian Kahlich (Head of Sales MTV und VIVA), Klaus Meine, Ingo Powitzer (Guitar Tech Matthias Jabs), Matthias Jabs, Michael Gehrke (Scorpions Tour Manager), Hans Gardemar (Band), Uli Mücke (Music for Millions), Johan Franzon (Band), Giacomo La Tragna (Director Promotion & Media Cooperations AOR Label Group) und Susanne Schrader (Product Manager). Photos: Dominik Beckmann

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